Batting T adapter

ABSTRACT

An insertable adapter for use with batting-T&#39;s which is translucent, flexible and designed to more faithfully reflect and promote proper mechanics of swinging a traditional baseball bat, therefore hitting a ball thrown through the air.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This non provisional application is a continuation-in-part of provisional application No. 60/251,767, which was filed Dec. 7, 2000, entitled TURBO BASEBALL BATTING TEE ACCESSORY.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to an insertable adapter for use with batting-T's, which is translucent, flexible and designed to more faithfully reflect and promote proper mechanics of swinging a traditional baseball bat, and therefore hitting a ball thrown through the air.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Batting-T's have been widely used and known for many years. They are often necessarily designed to be heavy and rugged in order to withstand the punishing treatment of being hit during normal use. A major drawback of heavily built batting-t's is that hitting the heavy, rigid and usually rubber or synthetic rubber “pipe”, commonly referred to as the periscope portion, holding the ball sends shock waves back through the bat to the batter. This shockwave is physically and mentally detrimental to the batter who considers the implication of correctly swinging the barrel of the bat to and through the ball in a slightly descending swing, on all future attempts. This has the result of the batter worrying about being “shocked” by impact with the T, instead of concentrating on hitting through the ball. As a result, the batters start to alter their swing, and instead of hitting down and through the ball, they tend swing over the top of the ball or worse, start “picking” the ball with an undesirable upper cut swing.

[0004] Additionally, most batting-T's are black or some other solid color and do not replicate the action of hitting a ball in clear mid air. Since these batting-T's do not exactly mimic the reality of hitting a ball in mid air because of this visual difference, the utility of existing batting-T's as a training tool is diminished. Existing batting-T's wear out after being struck by bats and the entire unit must be replaced at a large expense.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The instant invention addresses each of the issues with current batting-T's by providing a flexible, translucent, replaceable batting-T insert.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

[0006] An object of the instant invention is a quick and easy to install batting-T adapter which will mate into the top periscope portion of most existing batting-T bases.

[0007] Another object of the instant invention is a batting-T adapter which is flexible and translucent and is configured to significantly reduce ball friction.

[0008] Another object of the instant invention is a batting-T adapter which is lightweight and durable, yet is also small and portable.

[0009] Another object of the instant invention is a batting-T adapter which prolongs the life of existing and dilapidated batting-T's.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the batting-T adapter in use inserted in a batting-T.

[0011]FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the batting-T adapter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0012] Detailed embodiments of the instant invention are disclosed herein, however it will be understood that the disclosed embodiments are exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

[0013] Referring to FIG. 1, the batting-T adapter 2 is shown disposed in the main periscope tube 40 of a standard batting-T 42.

[0014] Referring to FIG. 2 batting-T 2 has a lower base 4 which has solid core 6, outer wall 12, lower end 8 and lower outer edge 10. The solid core 6 of base 4 helps to keep batting-T 2 solidly supported in main periscope tube 40 of standard T 42 with necessary weight and mass. In addition, the last 0.50″ of solid core just below stop ring 16 increases in dimension from 1.165″ to 1.25″. This added step insures a secure fit.

[0015] Circumfrential stop ring 16 is located at the opposite end of lower base 4 from lower end 8. Circumfrential stop ring 16 has a lower neck 14, an upper neck 18 and stop ring extending arm portion 44. When in use, lower neck 14 of circumstantial stop ring 16 is supported by main tube 40 of standard T 42.

[0016] Upper support portion 22 is connected to lower base 4. Depending on the need for height and rigidity, upper base portion 20 may be disposed between lower base 4 and upper support portion 22. Upper base portion 20 may be configured with the same, narrower or wider dimension as compared to lower base 4. Solid upper base 20, which is about one inch in length above circumfrential stop ring 16 is solid to prevent premature tearing from repeated removing and replacing the batting-T adapter 2 from the standard T 42. The users thumb & index fingers are placed on upper base portion 20 to pull batting-T adapter from standard T 42.

[0017] Upper support portion 22 has internal aperture 24, internal walls 26, outer wall 28 and internal bottom 30.

[0018] Flared tip portion 32 is connected to the top of upper support portion 22. Flared tip portion 32 has internal aperture 34, internal wall 36, outer wall 38 and outer edge 48.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, in operation, ball 46 is placed on outer edge 48 of flared tip 32. Ball 46 is held in position of a batter to hit the ball from the outer edge 48.

[0020] Adapter base T 2 is made from translucent, flexible PVC in order to simulate hitting a ball suspended in air. The translucence helps to isolate the ball 46 from standard T 42. The material is flexible to avoid contact pressure/shockwave being transferred back to the batter as a result of contact made with adapter base T 2. In the preferred embodiment, adapter base T 2 is made to be approximately 80% less resistant to impact than material from standard T's 42 and adapter base T 2 has approximately 20% of the mass of standard T's 42. The characteristics of the PVC material should be such as to withstand at least 5,000 contacts without any indication of breakdown. Since the adapter base T 2 is easily replaceable, it makes old and dilapidated standard T's 42, which have experienced fraying or splitting at the top, completely functional. Additionally, adapter base T 2 will extend the life of most standard T's 42 by absorbing the majority of impact hits.

[0021] The diameter of lower base 4 is designed to mate slidably and rigidly with most standard t's 42. The lower base 4 diameter should be approximately 1.165 inches and the lower base height should be about 7 inches in length. Circumfrential stop ring 16 should have a diameter of approximately 1.7 inches and an extending arm portion 44 outside lower base outer wall 12 of about 0.25 inches.

[0022] Upper support 22 should be about 3 inches in length and upper flared portion 32 should be about 1.5 inches in length. The flared tip outer wall 38 should be about 0.10 inches in thickness to be relatively thin. The flared tip outer wall 38 has an inward beveled outer edge matching the contour of a baseball and a maximum aperture diameter of about 1.25 inches to keep ball friction to a minimum.

[0023] Adapter base T 2 is designed to be lightweight to be easily carried in travel bags to be installed in main tube 40 of standard T 42 in seconds without tools.

[0024] Additional features and applications of the instant invention can be practiced hereunder without departing from the nature and spirit of the description of the preferred embodiment. 

What I claim is: 1) A batting-T adapter comprising: a) a cylindrical lower base portion having an outside wall, a lower edge, a lower end and a top end; b) a circumfrential stop ring, connected to said lower base portion, having a lower neck, an extending arm portion and an upper neck; c) an upper support portion, connected to said top end of said lower base portion, having an outer wall, an inner wall, an inner base and an upper edge which together define an internal aperture; d) an upper flared tip portion, connected to said upper edge of said upper support portion, having an outer wall, an inner wall, a lower edge and an upper edge contoured for supporting a ball. 2) A batting-T adapter, as recited in claim 1, wherein said lower base portion is solid. 3) A batting-T adapter, as recited in claim 1, wherein said batting-T adapter is made from translucent material. 4) A batting-T adapter, as recited in claim 1, wherein said batting-T adapter is made from flexible material. 5) A batting-T adapter, as recited in claim 1, wherein said batting-T adapter is made from flexible PVC. 6) A batting-T adapter, as recited in claim 1, wherein said batting-T adapter has about 80% less resistance to impact than standard batting-T's. 7) A batting-T adapter, as recited in claim 1, wherein said batting-T adapter has about 20% of the mass of standard batting-T's. 8) A batting-T adapter, as recited in claim 1, wherein said cylindrical lower base portion firmly and slidably mates with most standard batting-T's. 9) A batting-T adapter, as recited in claim 1, wherein said upper flared tip portion has a thin wall, which provides less ball friction than standard T's. 10) A batting-T adapter, as recited in claim 1, wherein said batting-T adapter is lightweight and easily slidably inserts into a standard T. 11) A batting-T adapter, as recited in claim 1, wherein said batting-T adapter may be carried in a travel bag. 12) A batting-T adapter, as recited in claim 1, wherein said cylindrical lower base portion has a diameter of about 1.165 inches. 13) A batting-T adapter, as recited in claim 1, wherein said cylindrical lower base portion has a length, between said lower edge and said lower neck, of about 7 inches. 14) A batting-T adapter, as recited in claim 1, wherein said circumfrential stop ring has a diameter of about 1.7 inches wherein said lower neck, disposed below said circumfrential stop ring of increases in diameter from about 1.165 inches to about 1.25 inches. 15) A batting-T adapter, as recited in claim 1, further comprising an upper base portion disposed between said lower base portion and said upper support portion. 16) A batting-T adapter, as recited in claim 1, wherein said upper support portion is about 5.5 inches in length. 17) A batting-T adapter, as recited in claim 1, wherein said upper flared tip portion has a length of about 1.5 inches. 18) A batting-T adapter, as recited in claim 1, wherein said upper flared tip portion has a wall diameter of about 0.10 inches. 19) A batting-T adapter, as recited in claim 1, wherein said upper edge of said upper flared tip portion has a rounded and contoured surface. 20) A batting-T adapter, as recited in claim 1, wherein said upper aperture of said upper flared tip portion has a diameter of about 1.25 inches. 